SHORT HILLS, New Jersey — After using his fists to establish his presence in the Ottawa Senators lineup a week ago, Ben Harpur used his hands to salute a friendly fan.

Sitting in the penalty box following his spirited fight with Detroit’s Michael Rasmussen during the Senators 4-2 win on Dec. 14, the towering Senators defenceman was surprised to hear a noise to his left.

“I just heard a tap on the glass and (the fan) had pointed at his beer,” Harpur recalled Thursday, while preparing for Friday’s tilt against the New Jersey Devils.

Was he offering Harpur a sip?

“I think it was more like a cheers kind of thing,” said Harpur, with a laugh. “I had a water bottle in my hand at the time, so I just cheers-ed him back. I thought it was pretty fun. My buddy sent me that thing on Twitter after the game.”

NATURE OF THE GAME: There could be more beer salutes coming. While Harpur insists he’s not looking for trouble, he’s not going to skate away from it should that come from his renewed focus on physical play.

Two nights, Harpur broke the nose of Boston’s Sean Kuraly when Kuraly challenged him to a fight following a clean hit.

“I don’t think I’m really doing anything too different, it’s just the situations I’ve been in have been a little different. Usually, at my size (6-6, 222 pounds), you don’t have guys challenging you that much. I’m just trying to play a normal game and be physical and the altercations are a product of that.”

Boston Bruins centre Sean Kuraly gets taken to the ice by Ottawa Senators defenceman Ben Harpur during second period NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018.Fred Chartrand /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

CONFIDENCE GROWING: The organization has always encouraged Harpur to use his size to his advantage and when he’s doing that, he’s being rewarded with additional ice time.

“It definitely takes a ramp up after Christmas, the standings are tight, the points are big for us,” he said. “If that’s what the team needs from me to be successful, then I think it’s something I need to bring.”

BOUNCING BACK IN BELLEVILLE: Give Max McCormick credit for not pouting. After clearing waivers and being assigned to the AHL, McCormick responded by scoring one goal and one assist in Belleville’s 5-4 comeback win over Rochester Wednesday. Drake Batherson, who was also assigned to Belleville on Tuesday, registered an assist. Rudolfs Balcers, Paul Carey and Aaron Luchuk – his first in the AHL – also scored for Belleville…It was a good news/bad news story on the goaltending prospect front. After starter Marcus Hogberg yielded three goals on only five shots, Filip Gustavsson stopped 17 of 18 shots to pick up the win in relief.

Max McCormick of the Senators skates with the puck against Olli Maatta of the Pittsburgh Penguins.Matt Kincaid /
Getty Images

SCHEDULING NIGHTMARE: While the big-league Senators will enjoy a comfortable Christmas break, Belleville isn’t so lucky. The baby Senators will play in Cleveland on Friday and Saturday nights, then take the eight-hour bus ride home.They’re back in action for a Boxing Day matinee against the Marlies in Toronto and return home to face Laval on Dec. 27…Somebody should leave coal in the schedule maker’s stocking.

FACING THE MUSIC: Give Devils general manager Ray Shero credit for his honesty. And his sense of humour.

In an hour long question and answer session with New Jersey-based media Wednesday, Shero was outspoken on a number of topics, including the shaky goaltending of Cory Schneider and Keith Kincaid through the opening few months of the season. The Devils sat dead last in the Eastern Conference before Thursday’s game against Columbus.

“Let’s be honest,” said Shero, who won the Stanley Cup as Pittsburgh’s GM and began his management career with the Senators. “It’s well-documented with Cory that it’s not good enough and he knows it’s not good enough. With our goaltending, we’re 28th or 29th in the league. Unless we went to 56 teams, that ain’t good.”

Schneider’s last victory came last Dec. 27 and he’s currently sidelined with an abdominal injury.

STANDING PAT: Following a 4-0 start to the 2018-19 season, the Devils looked like they were well on their way to another playoff berth.

So much for that.

“In the words of the great Mike Tyson, ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face’,” said Shero. “Ok, yeah, we’ve been punched in the face a little this year. This is a speed bump. We have a plan and we’re going to stick with it.”

Shero says he’s not about to make drastic short-term changes that would change the long-term plan to build around a youthful core.

New Jersey Devils’ Brian Boyle eturns to the bench after getting his third goal of the NHL hockey game in the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, Nov. 5, 2018.Gene J. Puskar /
AP

CHRISTMAS COMINGS … AND GOINGS: While Florida is Craig Anderson’s off-season home, he will be enjoying a white Christmas. His wife and kids are going against the grain, flying north to Ottawa for the winter. Or, at least for a few weeks…Meanwhile, it will be a Tkachuk family Christmas in St. Louis, with Senators rookie Brady Tkachuk and Calgary Flames star Matthew Tkachuk returning home for the holidays…Anyone else wishing they could be there to see the fight for the drumstick?

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